Montevideo, Federal League
July 6th, 1936
President Batlle Address to the Nation after the attack to the town of Rivera
"Good evening, my fellow Countryman,
As you may know, we received bad news from the border today, when our brave soldiers were the only thing standing between the wild caudillos of former Brazil and the respectable city of Rivera. This is not the first or the last time such an incident occurs on oriental lands, because we find ourselves in a time of general madness in this world, where men turn against men and all hell breaks loose.
At moments like this terrible century, the values on which our nation was founded must be stronger today than ever. Despite the verbiage and the raised voices in our nation, the defence of justice and freedom for which we are currently campaigning is the truest reflection of those very values in our national ethos. This valiant struggle to secure these rights continues unabated, and I am proud to say during my presidency that I have helped in this just struggle as best I could.
In Moscow, Berlin and Washington there is nothing but chaos, the former powers were reduced to rubble thanks to their arrogance and disregard for human life, now they find themselves in the greatest crisis of recent times, and now the burden of protecting fundamental human values falls on the peoples of the new world
The values of justice, freedom of speech and choice that define our nation and to which we are fully committed are going to be protected by all necessary means, and there is nothing that this government will not do to defend the personal safety of every free man, woman and child.
As President, it is my duty and my obligation to lead our nation in securing that future. We will no longer stand idly by as these caudillos harass our honest men and women, rest assured that these criminals will not go unpunished by their barbaric acts.
Our league has shown the best sides of Latin America in its culture and democratic traditions, so in this hour of responsibility I can only ask you to help us work together to secure a better future.
Thank you, and goodnight.”